Chazal sent emissaries to Abba Chilkiya, grandson of Choni HaMeagel, to pray for rain. Though there were great scholars at that time, they sought out these non-descript people to pray for rain. According to Chazal, Hashem seeks the kavana, intent, behind prayer. What is important is the effort, not the accomplishment. Many studied in yeshiva for years without success, yet they still receive the same reward as the successful student. The Torah tells us to assemble the entire people, men, women and children every seventh year to hear the reading of Mishneh Torah. All were rewarded for attending, despite varying degrees of intellectual capacity and comprehension.
Yavneh became the center of the Jewish universe after the destruction of the Temple. Often during the Temple period, others besides the Pharisee scholars, were in control. Rabbis were in the minority and were often ignored or killed, such as in the time of Yanai and Herod. After the temple was destroyed, the entire authority was concentrated in the Yavneh Academy. Just like the king is admonished to make sure that he does not act haughtily towards the people, the scholars of Yavneh were required to act accordingly. Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabban Gamliel all repeated the mantra of equality to ensure that their authority would be used effectively and appropriately. At that time simple Jews, amei ha’aretz, despised the rabbis. Rabbi Akiva famously noted when he was an am ha’aretz he would seek out scholars that he would bite like a snake. Jews are chaveirim because their accomplishments affect the entire community. They all share a common destiny. The actions of the scholars impact the entire community. We recognize that scholars were not unique when it came to kiddush Hashem. Millions of simple Jews went to their deaths with the same dedication as their scholarly brothers.
I and my friend are creatures, briah. Briah has two contradictory meanings. On the one hand, every animal and insect is Hashem’s creation. The animal and human kingdoms share many genetic similarities. In fact, the newborn human is among the weakest of species. Chazal say that if man is not worthy, he is reminded that the mosquito preceded him in creation. When it comes to my friend the farmer, we share the same physical destiny. The same diseases affect us both. However if the briah merits, he represents tzelem Elokim and is compared to angels.
There was no physical distinction between Raban Yochanan ben Zakai and the Galilean ignoramus. In the spiritual worlds there was great difference. However, perhaps that was because Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai was born into a family and circumstances that allowed him to accomplish. The Galilean farmer may have had the same skills but not the same opportunity. Melacha, work, implies a po’el (worker) and ba’al habayis (owner) relationship. A worker must work on whatever the owner assigns him. He can’t unilaterally decide what to work on. The same ba’al habayis assigned work to me and my friend. Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai was given the task to save the Jewish nation with Yavneh and to enact various takanot to preserve the people. The farmer was given his task to ensure that the scholars fulfill their mission by providing them food. My job may be easier than his. I know my work will affect future generations. But appreciation of my chaver is important; in the final analysis his job may be more important than mine.
Jewish scholars have traditionally required support to survive. Klal Yisrael, the workers in the field, supported their scholar brothers, like Issachar and Zebulun. Without them, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai could not sit in the academy in the city. The farmer remains anonymous, but the scholar/leader requires his contribution.
